SCV Salutes American Veterans

September 19th Event held at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia

The sixth annual SCV Salutes American Veterans event was a great success! The event just gets better and better year after year. (See photos below...and report from 2008 event.)

Once again, veteran patients at the Carl Vinson VAMC enjoyed the entertainment, the prizes and the food and all the volunteers had a great time, too.

SCV members and other volunteers from across Georgia converged at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Dublin, Georgia early Saturday. For five years we've had great weather for this annual event the third Saturday in September, but for 2009 we had a strong threat of rain, it was 50/50 odds, so the VAMC executed their contingency plan to move the event indoors. The cook tent was set up outdoors, but the band's equipment was set up on the stage in the indoor auditorium, the charcoal was started and fun began. For several hours well into the afternoon, the auditorium was filled with the sound of music, laughter and people enjoying themselves.

Several hundred patients and staff joined us there to enjoy the food, the music, the wheelchair races and the prize giveaways. The bike show remained outside where it didn't rain until after 3pm. It's estimated that we fed about 250 total. Many more who could not come to the auditorium received hats, goodie-bags, and good food delivered to them inside in their rooms. Goodie bags were given to all the patients that included books, hats, candy and more. Prizes included tote bags, T-shirts, MP3 players, electronic gadgets, phone cards and much more.

The antique car show, previously part of the SCV Salutes American Vets event, was held earlier in the year as a separate event for 2009. The General Lee, the ever-popular 1969 Dodge Charger of Dukes of Hazzard TV and movie fame, was on hand for viewing and photos. Its orange paint with the racing numeral "01," rooftop adorned with the Confederate Battle Flag, and horn that plays "Dixie" attracts attention wherever it goes. Special thanks go to owner Allen Baggett (a Laurens County deputy sheriff) who loaned it and to driver Rusty Henderson of Dublin for bringing it again this year. Since the crowd was indoors this year, the General Lee was parked on the sidewalk at the front entrance for all to admire.

Once again, we were proud to have as our guests descendants of the famous "Ten Cent Bill" Yopp. His grand-children and great-grandchildren present included Charles Blue, Rosa Chappell, Felicia Evans, Torin and Tyra Evans, and Felicia's husband Michael. See the photo of them below with the General Lee.

Thanks to our many volunteers, sponsors and contributors, we had plenty of food and prizes for everyone. Contributors of the meat, foodstuffs, picnic supplies, and prizes are too numerous to name here but Walthall Oil in Macon and Lord's Sausage deserve special mention. The non-SCV volunteers were many including four members of the band, Emmitt Sherling the master chef, his assistant Robert Shepherd, Suzanne Huffman, Kitten Faulk, the ladies of the UDC (United Daughters of the Confederacy Sidney Lanier Chapter #25-Macon), the Warner Robins Moose Riders and many others. The ladies prepared homemade desserts which are always a favorite of the veterans. The Moose Riders, in addition to bringing their motorcycles, raised significant funds for the purchase of supplies and food.

Kitten Faulk (wife of Clinch's Cavalry member Dan Faulk) of Twiggs County served as emcee for the festivities keeping things moving. SCV Fourth Brigade Commander Kim Beck (member of Eastman's Pine Barrens Volunteers #2039) led all in an opening prayer, followed by SCV member Kipp Pittman of Willacoochee who led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. The band was introduced and they entertained while the assembly ate a fine meal of grilled chicken, grilled sausage with all the fixin's and great desserts served by the volunteers.

Event chairman Russ Huffman of Jeffersonville (Commander of Clinch's Cavalry SCV Camp #2084 Jeffersonville) and Steve Scroggins of Macon (Commander of Lt. James T. Woodward Camp #1399 Warner Robins) organized the wheelchair races. Contestants using both manual and motorized wheelchairs, ran in two heats, one for straight line speed and another to test agility, the slalom between cones placed on the racetrack. The combined times for the two heats (plus any penalty seconds for cone contact) determined the winners. Racer #3 took first place with a combined time of 19.51 seconds. Racer #4 took second place with a combined time of 27.96 seconds; third place was Racer #5 with a combined time of 30.47 seconds (which included two penalty seconds). The winners were presented with trophies. Privacy regulations at the VA Medical Center prevent us from identifying the contestants.

Veteran patients who participated in the wheelchair races volunteered to serve as judges for the motocycle show; and their consensus voting named three winners all of whom received trophies. 'Cleanest Bike' was won by Kenny Davis; 'Dirtiest Bike' was "won" by Bud Cranford of Kathleen; 'Best Overall' was won by Tommy Brown. Brown is a member of the Moose Riders. Cranford, of Kathleen, is a member of SCV Camp 1399 in Warner Robins, the Mechanized Cavalry and President of the Moose Club. Cranford said he worked hard to win his prize, he had not washed his bike since the competition in 2008. "My bike is for riding, not for rubbing," Cranford said.

The band was great and entertained everyone with a mix of patriotic, country, blues, funk, pop and yes, even disco music. The band dubbed "The Volunteer Fab Jam Band" was organized only the week before due to illness among the regular band (Renegade Band from 2008) members -- they nevertheless were very versatile, professional and outstanding. Camp 1399 member Walter Duckworth performed lead vocals. The remainder of the band were Evans Ward, rhythm guitar/vocals; Keith Vander Water on bass guitar; Allen Pike, drums; and Steve "Deadeye" Meadows on lead guitar. All the band members live in central Georgia. They put on a very impressive show. Their song set included songs made famous by the Allman Brothers, Dire Straits, Johnny Cash, James Brown, The Commodores, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. Funk songs like "Word Up!" (Cameo/Melanie B) and disco like "Good Times" (Chic) even had a few dancers emerge from the audience, most of whom were bopping their heads and tapping their toes.

SCV Georgia Division Commander Jack Bridwell of Moultrie (Camp #674), himself a Seabee VietNam veteran, delivered the keynote address and did a great job with that (as always) explaining why our Southern heritage and our American veterans are important to SCV members. SCV camps from Warner Robins, Eastman, Cochran, Macon, and south Georgia were well represented. Apologies go to any left out of this list.

Due to privacy regulations, we are not able to show many of the great photos and activities that we had, and the faces of the veterans really tells the story best (be there next year to see what we mean). As you'll see in the photos below, we had to conceal their faces to comply with regulations.

A CD of photos will be delivered to the VAMC for posting on their bulletin board. The photos shown below which do include patients were modified to conceal their identities.

The veteran patients all seemed to enjoy the event and many expressed appreciation for the entertainment, prizes and attention paid to them. All the volunteers enjoyed the event as well and we hope to keep this an annual event. Based on the feedback we received, the veterans definitely want us to come back for a seventh annual event. VAMC recreation staffer Todd Spees told us that from the feedback he received from patients, our event is "the best bar none."

Months of legwork went into planning the event and securing donations from our generous contributors. Special thanks goes to Russ Huffman (Commander Camp 2084) for leading these efforts once again. The overall effort has become easier with practice, however, we welcome help and attendance from other SCV camps and volunteers going forward. You'll be glad you came.

This reporter takes the liberty to note that, despite all the smears labeling the Sons of Confederate Veterans as a "racist, extremist hate group" coming from the media as a result of the Joe Wilson heckling incident Sept. 9th [Rep. Joe Wilson, (R, SC) is an SCV member], we think the testimony of the veterans, this event, and the photos speak for themselves. Does this look like a "hate group" to you?

Thanks to all the volunteers...but most of all, thanks to ALL our American veterans for their service and sacrifice.
---Steve Scroggins, Commander, SCV Camp 1399, Warner Robins, GA

Click the thumbnails below to see larger versions. Photos by Steve Scroggins, Kim Beck & Bud Cranford.

Hallway leading to the auditorium at Carl Vinson VAMC.
Veterans and volunteers enjoy a meal	Veterans and volunteers mingle as assembly forms	4th Brigade Commander Kim Beck and GA-DIV Commander Jack Bridwell	Camp 1399 members Robert Poss, AO Smith, Ralph Carson, Ed Lusk
The Chow Line begins to form...	The General Lee by front door	Rusty Henderson, Rosa Chappell, Michael, Torin, Felicia & Tyra Evans	Steve Scroggins presents Bud Cranford with trophy for 'Dirtiest Bike'
Camp 1399 member Ricky Smith dances with daughter of band member	Bike show sets up	Goodie bags assembled for delivery to veterans	Bike show winds down
Vets discussing bikes	Vets viewing what's left of bike show	Volunteer Fab Jam Band	Vol Fab Jam Band